Rugby - Six Nations, S14, Lions, Can't Wait

[finbar]

Donald, after showing hints of potential against Aussie ...

The only false note in an otherwise worthy post. Oh, and this bit, too:

Oh well, at least I have the comfort of knowing that even in our darkest hour, we could still beat the lame Lions.

A smelly old piece of bait, obviously, but so rank, so much in defiance of reality that it defeats its own purpose.

[Andydog]

I've found that you don't need to spend the money on quality boolie when it comes to Havak and his precious Lions. He snaps at the cheap rancid stuff just as quickly and as the quality stuff.

[finbar]

True, but rancid boolie in the boolie bucket impacts on the quality boolie in the same bucket and pretty soon you've got a bucketful of, well, Scottish rugby.

[Havak]

Quality stuff?

[LDiCesare]

True, but rancid boolie in the boolie bucket impacts on the quality boolie in the same bucket and pretty soon you've got a bucketful of, well, Scottish rugby.

Don't be mean. I just saw the lineup for Scotland vs. England match, and Scotland had some good players.
Ok, it was the 1990 match.

[finbar]

Back in the days when England had some good players too.

[Andydog]

Back in the days when the players who played for England were actually English.

[finbar]

Careful. By extrapolation, you're saying there was once a good English player.

[Havak]

Just more sprats to catch a mackerel.

He wants me to respond by pointing out the England Rugby side at it's worst is more indiginous than NZ at their very best. He can then get all upset about my lack of understanding of NZ culture and tell me how it does me no credit to not recognise that the fact someone is good at rugby automatically makes them a Kiwi.

At least that is the usual pattern.

[finbar]

I notice the Test cricket selectors have just picked another Saffer-born. It's catching.

[Andydog]

And all I would do is point out to Havak, again, that all the All Blacks grew up and learned to play rugby in NZ. But Havak would refuse to accept this simple fact, again.

[finbar]

Cripes, even with 13 men the Wallabies were more competitive than the ABs. No idea what was going on inside Matt Giteau's head today. That idiotic tackle could cost him - and the team - dearly. Dreadful Wallaby lineout effort - though I'm not sure how you combat the Bok lineout; too many Wallaby penalties in their own half - though I'm with George Smith, the ref was far from consistent; very good Wallaby scrum effort - which can only mean the Bok scrum isn't the power it once was; some good Wallaby tactical kicking - about the only way you can stop the Boks putting on the squeeze; and excellent work, on the whole, from the Wallaby back three under the high ball. Promising stuff from the precocious teenager O'Connor and I like the look of Will Genia, the replacement #9. Interestingly enough, Papua New Guinea-born. His passing is so much crisper and more accurate than the incumbent's.

The Boks can be thwarted. The Wallabies did it for periods today. Their kick-based game can be stymied. Beating them requires discipline within 60m of the sticks and precision lineout work.

[Havak]

When have I ever talked (or in fact cared) about where a player went to school?

Nationality was always the point under discussion. However if you are happy with the fact that your Samoans and Fijians went to school in NZ then who am I to argue. I haven't spotted any Tongans in the current squad but no doubt some are lurking in the developments squads.

From your opening remark I'm guessing it was about Flutey. Ironic really given we never wanted him (any more than Van Gisbergen) and that his time with Wasps pre-disposes me to dislike him anyway. He is also clearly a very average product of the S14 system - but based on his Lions showing he would still do a better job for the ABs than either of the incumbent centres. I mean Nonu and Smith aren't quite as imposing as Mauger and Umaga now are they?

Of course I am a happy boy right now because my 'precious' Lions gave the Boks a far better test than the immortal ABs or pugnacious Wallabies could offer. Though the Wallabies certainly asked more questions of them than the ABs did.

The Boks are very reminscent of Jonno's England to me - oodles of forward power, a superb set piece perfomance, a reliable boot and top class back row forwards. I suspect they will take some of their away fixtures.

With France having already beaten the ABs and the latter just flopping over the line against them in the return test my year would be complete if the taffs and England beat them too.

I can hear you laughing already but are you truly that confident?

[finbar]

The Boks are very reminscent of Jonno's England to me - oodles of forward power, a superb set piece perfomance, a reliable boot and top class back row forwards.

Good point that hadn't occurred to me. Both teams thrive(d) on squeezing the life out of the oppo. Two very fine, motivating skippers. That England team had a better scrum, this Bok team has a better backline - not that it's being seen to advantage at the moment - and much more mobile and powerful forwards. Different eras, but J****'s mob (a year prior to the World Cup, when they were at their peak) would be an interesting contest, even if the ball would burst with all the kicking.

Shame to see Deano go from Quins even if inevitable. It was outrageous that the player was so hung out to dry. Very good coach. Should have been coaching England. A big blot on his record.

[Hydey]

I notice the Test cricket selectors have just picked another Saffer-born. It's catching.

And a fat lot of good it has done